“St Simon,” an engraving created by Albrecht Dürer in 1523, is a piece of art from the Northern Renaissance period that falls within the religious painting genre. The medium used for this work is engraving, which is a practice where the artist carves a design onto a hard surface.
The artwork features a bearded figure identified as St. Simon, one of the twelve apostles. He is depicted with a long face and flowing hair and beard, which are common attributes of saintly figures in religious art of this era. St. Simon is shown standing, dressed in elaborate robes that include multiple folds and layers, demonstrating Dürer’s exceptional skill in rendering textile details.
In his right hand, St. Simon holds what appears to be a long, straight sword, likely a symbol of his martyrdom, as apostles are often portrayed with the instruments of their martyrdom. He grips the sword near the hilt, and the blade extends upwards, aligning with his body, which adds to the vertical composition of the piece.
Dürer’s monogram “AD” is placed alongside the year of the work, “1523”, at the bottom right of the engraving, which serves as his signature. The level of detail, texture, and shading in this work reflects the artist’s mastery of the engraving medium and his ability to imbue a static image with a sense of depth and character, hallmarks of Dürer’s practice and the Northern Renaissance’s intricate artwork.
